Apparatus for handling cans.



No. 757,359. PATENTBD AUG. 15, 1905.

s. JUHNSOM AIPARATUS FOR HANDLING SANS.

APPLIQATION FILED MMM?, 1955.

IIIIIIIIIIII Wl 715/555155; IAVE/WOR PATENT'E'D AUG. 15, 1905.

- s. JOHNSQN. APPARATUS EUR HANDMNG- UMTS,

APPLICATION FILED M'R 27, 1906.

z SHEETS-Smm z.

SNVAN JOHNQN, OF MELROSE PARK, lLLlNOlS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '15, 1905.

Application leli March Z7, 1905. Serial No. 252,437.

Be it known that L SWAN JonNsoN, a citizen oi" the United States, residing at Melrose fllark, in the county of Cook and State oiI lllinois, have invented new and useful improvements in Apparatus for Handling (lans, of which the following is a specilication.

rllhis invention is an apparatus ior handling cans or other packages, as in packing the same in crates` boxes, cars, and the like or in transferring the saine irom one place to another.

llt is particularly adapted for use in can ltactories and in preserving or canning establishments, wherein the filled or unfilled cans have to be handled, packed, carried, or stored.

lhe invention comprises a table at one end of which is a chute down which the cans are lied to a position opposite a removable tray or carrier supported on the table and a movable transferring device which moves the cans from the bed o1 the table, where-they are deposited bythe chute onto the removable tray, which can then be lifted and carried to take a considerable number of cans wherever they are to be placed or packed. The tray has a slide which acts by a single. motion to discharge or shove all the cans oliC the same. '.lhe transferring device or gatherer 'for loading' the cans on the tray has an adjustable stop for varying the number oit cans received, and also has extensions or arms which cut o'tl the supply oi cans Vfrom the chute while the transferring device is being moved.

ein embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan view of the machine. llig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Figs. 3 and el; are vertical cross-sections with the parts in diiierent positions. Fig. 5 is a detail in section, showing the adjustable stop.

Referring specilically to the drawings, A indicates a chute down which the cans are ted, as from a can-making machine, a can-filling machine, or otherwise, as the case maybe. l his chute delivers onto the bed Z at the rear of the table D, which is supported by ends B, a back C, and a front C. rlhe end frames project above the table, as shown at Y), and have openings t through which the cans enter 'from the chute onto the shelf or bed dl. rlhere are openings at both ends of the table, so that the machine may be Yted :trom either end by changing' the chute around. The ends also form a track for the wheels c o't' the reciprocati ng collector or transferring' device E. This track has a level portion o2 at the rear over the openings and in 'liront has an upwardlycurved or cam-shaped part fr, up which the wheels of the collector run whenit is drawn forward, the purpose being to disengage it Jfrom the cans which it transfers onto the tray. Uther means for feeding the cans or articles may be employed, according' to the nature of the articles being handled. (lass jars, paper cartons or boxes, lilled packages, goods in cakes, or other merchandise may require somewhat ditiercnt conveying' and 'feeding means; but whatever means are used the articles are supplied to the table or its equivalent, which acts as a receiver on which the articles are gathered prior to their transfer to the removable tray or carrier.

rlhe can transferrcr or collector E consists oi'l a frame mounted on the wheels fe and having depending longitudinal ribs e'. ln the embodiment shown there are three ot' these riliis, so as to handle two rows oil cans. The chute and the collector may be made to handlc less or more rows ot cans, as desired. The ribs c are spaced apart a proper distance to receive the cans therebetween. 'lhe end frames oi the collector E are extended, as at li, to 'lorm a cut-,oliZ 'for the openings 7/ when the collector is drawn forward. These extensions work through slots f in the rear Atrame C. The 'liramelt has longitiulinal slots or openings r between the flanges, in which are loosely hung leather strips c, which provide a certain amount of 'friction and act to guide or steer the cans straight and to prevent short or small cans 'from turning around as they are fed in between the ribs c. rllhe collector is also provided with a handle li', by which it may be drawn back and ilorth.

F is an adjustable gage clamped upon the top ol" the frame E by slot and screw (indicated at f1) and having dependimr pins fi, which project through the slots ci and between the guides c, so as to stop the feed ot cans. rlhis stop is adjustable to vary the number of cans or to accommodate the apparatus to cans of dil'lerent sizes.

lil indicates a removable tray or carrier which is supported upon the table l) in 'front of the bed (l. This tray has a rear strip t, a

handle and spaced transverse strips 72,2, which latter support the cans when they are rolled on the tray.

I is a slide on the tray I-I, having' openings throug'h which the strips if work, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and provided with a handle z' for carrying both it and the tray when the latter is removed from the table. IV hen the cans are to be discharged or shoved off the tray, the handle is slid forward, if necessary, so that the cans can either be slid off by g'ravity or shoved olf upwardly or on a level. The slide removes and discharges the cans uniformly and simultaneously, and consequently is of assistance in packing' and storing' the cans or the like. This tray or carrier, as shown, is the form particularlyv used for cans; but the invention is not limited to this particular form, as any suitable tray or carrying' device would be useful in the relation indicated. Different sizes or kinds of articles would also necessitate change in the form of carrier used.

In operation the cans are fed down the chute Aand onto the bed Z between the ribs c'. The tray being' in position on the table, the collector or transferrer E is pulled forward, which slides the cans onto the tray. The forward motion causes the wheels e to travel up the raised track L3, whichlifts the transferrer from the cans and enables the same to be pushed back in its former position for the next bunch. The extensions If cut oft` the supply during' the motion referred to. IVhen the tray is filled, it is lifted by the handles /t/ and and carried to the place desired. The tray thus acts to carry uniform rows of any desired number. This is useful in counting' the cans, as a count may be kept of the number of trays instead of the number of cans.

Although shown and described in connection with cans, it is obvious that the invention is capable of application for use with packag'es of other kinds.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure b v Letters Patent, ism

l. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a table, a removable tray thereon, means to feed the articles to the table, and means to transfer the same from the table to the tray.

2. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a table, a removable tray thereon, means to feed the articles to the table, and a transferring' device movable back and forth between the table and the tray and constructed to transfer the articles from the former to the latter.

3. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a table, a removable tray thereon, a transfer-frame movable over the table and tray and having' g'uides for the articles and means to feed the articles to the said frame.

4. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a table having inclined tracks at the ends, a removable tray on the table between said ends, a transfer-frame movable upon saidtracks and having depending' ribs, and means to feed articles to the table under the frame, between said ribs.

5. A carrying-tray for articles having' a discharging-slide secured thereto and movable back and forth thereon, substantially as described.

6. A carrying-tray for articles, comprising' the bottom frame H havinga handle, and the discharging-slide I secured to the frame, and having' the handle 2' extending thereover.

'l'. In an apparatus for handling' articles, in combination, a table having' a bed-piece at the rear thereof, and inclined tracks at the ends, a removable tray on the table, in front of said bed-piece and between the tracks, a transferring-frame movable back and forth on the tracks over the bed-piece and tray, and having depending' ribs and means to feed the articles onto the bed-piece under said frame and between the ribs.

8. In an apparatus of the kind stated, the movabIe transferring-frame having' depending' longitudinal ribs and friction guide-strips extending between said ribs, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a table having' a bed-piece at the rear thereof and inclined tracks at the ends, a feed-chute at the end of the table, delivering' the articles in rows onto the bed-piece, a removable tray on the table in front of the bedpiece, and a transfer-frame movable back and forth on the tracks and having' depending ribs between which the articles are received and rear extensions at the ends which close the chute when the frame is drawn forward.

10. In an apparatus of the kind stated, the movable transfer-frame having longitudinal depending' ribs forming ways to receive articles, and stops on the frame between the ribs, adjustable to vary the length of the ways.

Il. In an apparatus for handling'packag'es or articles, in combination, a receiver and means to deliver articles thereto, a removable carrier supported adjacent to the receiver, means to transfer the articles from the receiver to the carrier, and means to discharge the articles from the carrier.

l2. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a receiver open at one side, means to deliver articles to the receiver, a removable carrier supported adjacent the open side ofthe receiver and having' means to discharge articles therefrom. and means to simultaneously transfer the articles from the receiver to the carrier.

13. In an apparatus for handling articles, in combination, a receiver, means to deliver articles thereto in orderly arrangement, a removable carrier supported adjacent to the receiver, means to simultaneously transfer the articles from the receiver to the carrier in the same orderly arrangement, and means to discharge articles from the carrier in the same arrangement.

14. A carrying-tray for articles, comprising; a frame having,I a handle, and a discharging-slide attached to the frame and movable back and forth thereon and havingl a handle extending tliereover, and arranged to assist in carrying the frame.

ln testimony whereofI l have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SWAN J OHllSON. l/Vitnesses:

SIGNA FnLTsKoG, H. Gr. BATCHELOR. 

